Hair curler



y 5, 1952 R. M. KEELE 2,595,362

HAIR CURLER Filed May 6, 1949 INVENTOR.

@Wiv M Patented May 6, 1952 HAIR CURLER Ralph M Keele, San Francisco, Calif assignor, 1 by mesne assignments, to Grace Wagner, Des

Moines. Iowa Application May 6, 1949, Serial No. 91,731

-This invention relates to improvements in permanent wave forming devices, and particularly to the exothermic pad heated type in which a strand of hair is wound on a mandrel and placed within an enclosure in wh ch heat and. moisture are formed through the agency of a moistened cover member containing exothermic chemicals.

Conventional devices this type have an enclosure formed of live rubber and mounted in a clamp. The hair strand is passed throu h an opening in a heat insulating sheet or pad and wound on a mandrel which in turn is clam ed in a mandrel holder. The clamp is opened and a moistened exothermic capsule is placed in the upper end of the enclosure after which the mandrel with the strand of hair wound thereon is placed in position in the enclosure, the clamp closing the enclosure.

With this type of device, the steam generated by the capsule from the moisture condenses on the walls of the enclosure, seeps throu'rh to the scalp, sometimes scalding the area occupied by the strand of hair.

Furthermore, five operations are required with each strand of hair; passing the strand through the heat insulator, winding the strand on the mandrel, mounting the mandrel in the holder, wetting and inserting the capsule in the enclosure, and placing the mandrel in the enclosure.

With my invention no heat insulator is necessary and there is no holder for the mandrel, and the exothermic member is inserted after the mandrel is secured in the heat chamber which is not a complete enclosure, thus requiring only three operations; winding the strand of hair on the mandrel, inserting the mandrel in the chamber, and wetting and inserting the exothermic member in the back of the chamber, thus completing the enclosure.

Furthermore, any condensation is maintained in the chamber and cannot seep throu h to the scalp, being maintained in very small bodies not capable of collecting and running to one end of the device, thus providing absolute safety against scalds. Furthermore, live steam cannot force its way toward the scalp because the exothermic member does not form a perfect seal thus permitting esca e of excess steam. Thus the efficiencv is increased, the operator's t me is redu ed greatly, the amount of work is greatly reduced and simplified, and there is absolute safety with no possibilities of scalding or burning, my invention therefore having many advantages over conventional hair waving devices.

13 Claims. (Cl. 132-36) The obiects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a hair waving device which requires a minimum number of operations and which is of simple construction.

Second, to provide a device as outlined in which a heating element is insertible after the hairwound mandrel of the device is placed in position for treatment.

Third, to rovide a device as outlined with condensed moisture retaining means to prevent scalding during hair waving treatments.

Fourth, to provide a device as outlined with an enclosure having an opening at the back for insertion of a heating device and which opening is sealed by the exothermic pad to complete the enclosure.

Fifth, to provide a device as outlined with a pocket between the clamp handles for insertion of a pad type of heating device.

Sixth, to provide a moisture activated foldable exothermic pad for use with the device for heating the hair wound on the mandrel in the presence of moisture and for simultaneously completing the enclosure.

Seventh, to provide a device as outlined which is of the simplest possible construction and operation, with the least number of parts and operations necessary for waving the hair.

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the heating and moistening chamber.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged transverse section taken through the invention on a line 55 of Fig. 1.

The heating chamber or enclosure consists of a cylindrical portion Hi having end walls H and I2 with a mandrel journal receiving aperture l3 formed axially through each end wall. A depending shoe I4 is connected to the underside of the cylindrical portion through a neck l5, and a multiplicity of closely spaced transverse ribs l8 are formed on the underside of the shoe, and an upstanding rib I! is formed interiorly of the cylindrical portion or heating enclosure to ,form a gutter [8 on each side.

The cylindrical portion, upstanding rib, neck' and shoe are split throu h from the lower side of the apertures l3 as indicated at [9 leaving a plane face 20 on each side of the split.

A series of circular ribs 2| are formed interiorly of the heating enclosure and terminate at the lower end in the upstanding rib l1, and terminate at the upper end at the opening 22 with the exception of the end ribs 23 and 24 at which points the ribs extend about the upper side of the enclosure.

The heating padreceiving and retaining pocket 25 extends upwardly from the opening 22 and is tapered convergently toward the top at both ends and sides as shown.

The mandrel 26 is of conventional form having knobs 2'! and 28 at the respective ends and being journaled in the apertures l3.

The clamp consists of 'two members 29 and 30 which are hinged together as indicated at 3| and each having spaced lever members 32 and 33 with intervening space 34. A finger recess 35 is formed downwardly in each side wall of the pocket 25. A clamp spring 36 clamps over the two members 29 and 30 at each end to close the members and these members are anchored in the lower ends of the respective side walls of the enclosure as indicated at 31.

Cross-bars 38 are secured across the upper ends of the lever members 32 and 33 to form finger grips.

The exothermic pad 39 consists of an envelope which contains the conventional exothermic chemicals with at least one face absorbent, and is flexible to permit folding.

The invention is very simple and easy to use. A strand iil of hair is wound on the mandrel. The clamp handles '38 are pressed together to open the slit l9 and the mandrel is inserted in position and the handles are released. An exothermic pad 39 is folded centrally and dipped in water then inserted with the free ends 4| down intothe pocket 25 to the position shown. The

moistened pad swells and seals the pocket to complete the enclosure. When the operation is completed, the pad is removed. If difliculty is encountered in gripping through the top of the pad between thehandles, the pad can be gripped by finger and thumb through the openings 34 and 35. The handles are again pressed together again to release the mandrel, from which the "strand is unwound.

' 'It will be noted that the pad is made of a width substantially equal to the inside width at the top of the pocket and that when placed in position the sides of the pad contact the side and end walls'of the pocket and the pad swells, thus completingthe enclosure to hold the steam, but steam under any excess pressure will escape at theends of the pad as the seal at those points is not absolutely perfect.

Any steam that condenses is divided into exceedingly small portions by the ribs 2| and will settle down into the individual pockets l8 formed between these ribs, so that the hot water cannot gather to one end of the device or run through the slit to the scalp 42, eliminating the possibility of scalding the scalp which sometimes happens with conventional hair waving devices. Obviously, an electric heating device could very readily be substituted for the exothermic pad, in fact there would be actually no change in design, a heating element being substituted for the chemical', and'mer'elyhaving leads provided from the folded end at 43. The foot l4 with its cross ribs I6 provides 'all necessary heat-insulation particularly in view of the intervening neck 15.

I claim:

1. In a hair waving device having a mandrel on which a strand of hair is to be Wound and having a journal at each end and includin clamping means, comprising; a heating chamber comprising a cylindrical member formed of resilient material having end walls and a top wall with said end walls provided with apertures for reception and retention of said journals and being split vertically through the lower half thereof for opening and closing for reception and removal of the mandrel and axially spaced vertical ribs, and a longitudinal rib connecting the lower ends of the vertical ribs and forming a series of pockets internally along each side of thesplit to retain condensed steam or the like in a multiplicity of small volumes to prevent draining through the split to the scalp.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1; said cylindrical portion having an opening extending through the major portion of the length of the top wall and having a sleeve extending upwardly therefrom to receive a folded envelope type exothermic pad with the free ends dependent to span the mandrel and the folded central portion fitting within to seal the sleeve for heating and for completing the enclosure.

3. A structure asdefined in claim 2; said sleeve having finger recesses formed centrally in the upper end and extending downwardly to provide finger access to the folded center of the pad within the sleeve for removal. Y

4. A heat chamber for a hair waving device comprising an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end walls including means for securing a mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the-split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp; said cylindrical portion having; a multiplicity of spaced annular ribs formed interiorly andv terminating in said ridge to divide the gutter into a multiplicity of pockets for division to minute volumes of the condensed steam to reduce the possibility of drainage to the scalp.

5. A heat chamber for a waving device comprising a mandrel, an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end walls including axial journal receiving passages for securing the journals of said mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly from said passages through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end .interiorly on each side of the split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to'the scalp; an opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of said cylindrical portion and formed through the top thereof, and a sleeve extending upwardly from said opening and open at its upper end for insertion of a folded pad-type heating and moistening means with the free ends spanning the mandrel for heating and providing moisture to a strand of hair wound on the mandrel and with the folded central portion of the pad forming a seal within the sleeve to complete the enclosure.

6. A heat chamber for a waving device comprising a mandrel, an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and .having end walls including axial journal receiving passages for securing the journals of said mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly from said passages through the lower half and having a ridge extending up- 5, wardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the'split to form a, gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp; said heat chamber including a foot projecting downwardly from the underside of said cylindrical portion with an intervening relatively thin neck portion to increase the heat insulating effect to the foot, and said foot and neck portion being split longitudinally centrally in continuation of the split in the lower half of the cylindrical portion for opening to receive the mandrel.

7. A heat chamber for a hair waving device comprising an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end walls including means for securing a mandrel therein and .being split throughout its length downwardly through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp; said cylindrical portion having a multiplicity of spaced annular ribs formed interiorly and terminating in said ridge to divide the gutter in a multiplicity of pockets for division to minute volumes of the condensed steam to reduce the possibility of drainage; an opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of said cylindrical portion and formed through the top thereof, and a sleeve extending upwardly from said opening and open at its upper end for insertion of a pad-type heating and moistening means for heating the mandrel and simultaneously providing moisture to a strand of hair wound thereon and for sealing and completing the enclosure.

8. A heat chamber for a hair waving device comprising an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end Walls including means for securing a mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp; said cylindrical portion having a multiplicityvof spaced annular ribs formed interiorly and terminating in said ridge to divide the gutter in a multiplicity of pockets for division to minute volumes of the condensed steam to reduce the possibility of drainage; said heat chamber including a foot connected to the underside of said cylindrical portion through a neck portion to increase the heat insulating effect to the foot, and said foot and neck portion being split longitudinally centrally in continuation of the split in the lower half of the cylindrical portion for opening to receive the mandrel.

9. A heat chamber for a hair waving device comprising an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end walls including means for securing a mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp; said cylindrical portion having a multiplicity of spaced annular ribs formed interiorly and terminating in said ridge to divide the gutter in a multiplicity of pockets for division to minute volumes of the condensed steam to reduce the possibility of drainage; said heat chamber having a foot portion substantially equal in width to the diameter of the cylindrical portion and extending throughout the length thereof, and said foot including said split longitudinally centrally as a continuation of the split in the lower portion of said cylindrical portion, and a multiplicity of closely spaced ribs formed on the undersurface of said foot angularly to the axis of the cylindrical portion to provide minimum distance for circulation and maximum heat dissipation from the underside of the foot.

10. A heat chamber for a waving device comprising a mandrel, an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end walls including axial journal receiving passages for securing the journals of said mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly from said passages through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp, an opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of said cylindrical portion and formed through the top thereof, and a sleeve extending upwardly from said opening and open at its upper end for insertion of a folded pad-type heating and moistening means with the free ends spanning the mandrel for heating and providing moisture to a strand of hair wound on the mandrel and with the folded central portion fitting the inside of the sleeve to form a seal; said heat chamber including a foot connected to the underside of said cylindrical portion through a relatively thin neck portion to increase the heat insulating effect to the foot, and said foot and neck portion being split longitudinally centrally in continuation of the split in the lower half of the cylindrical portion for opening to receive the mandrel.

11. A heat chamber for a hair waving device comprising an enclosure consisting of a cylindrical portion of resilient material and having end walls including means for securing a mandrel therein and being split throughout its length downwardly through the lower half and having a ridge extending upwardly from the lower end interiorly on each side of the split to form a gutter along each side for reception and retention of moisture to prevent draining to the scalp; said cylindrical portion having a multiplicity of spaced annular ribs formed interiorly and terminating in said ridge to divide the gutter in a multiplicity of pockets for division to minute volumes of the condensed steam to reduce the possibility of drainage; an opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of said cylindrical portion and formed through the top thereof, and a sleeve extending upwardly from said opening and open at its upper end for insertion of a pad-type heating and moistening means to the cylindrical portion for heating and providing moisture to a strand of hair wound on the mandrel; said heat chamber having a foot portion substantially equal in width to the diameter of the cylindrical portion and extending throughout the length thereof, and said foot including said split longitudinally centrally as a continuation of the split in the lower portion of said cylindrical portion, and a multiplicity of closely spaced ribs formed on the undersurface of said foot angularly to the axis of the cylindrical portion to provide minimum dis- 7 tancezfor circulation and maximum heat dissipation from the underside of thefoot.

12'. An elongated heat chamber and sealing meanstherefor and having means for removably securing a hair waving mandrel therein and being split throughout its length through the lower portion thereof for insertion and removal of the mandrel and having means for collecting andretaining any condensed steam in minute portions against drainage through the split to the scalp of a person; an elongated opening formed in the upper side of said chamber for insertion of a heating member through the top of'the chamberafter insertion ,of the mandrel. with. said heating-member coincidentally formingsaid sealing means for the heat chamber; said meansfor collecting comprising vertical ribs terminating at the lowerr'end in an upstanding wall on each side of the mandrel to forma gutter for-each side and divided into individual pockets by said ribs.

p 13. An elongated heat chamber formed of resilient material and having top; side, bottom and end walls; an elongated opening formed through the top wall and asleeve encompassing said opening and extending upwardly therefrom to receive a centrally folded envelope type heating member with the folded central portion sealing the sleeve and the free ends spreading within the chamber; a neck portion extending throughout the length of the bottom wall and terminating in a broad foot to provide heat insulation;

ajournal passage formed through each end wall to receive the respective end journals of a. hair waving-mandrel; said foot; neck portion. bottom wall and end walls being split throughout their 'lengthsand centrally thereof and with the split REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofv record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,842,666 Gaire Jan. 26, 1932 1,984,585 Keele Dec. 18, 1934 2,210,897 Caldora Aug. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 43,430 France June 6, 1934 833,647 France July 25, 1938 491,913 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1938 

